Suddenly, a shooting guard with a history of two knee surgeries doesn’t look all that bad to the Nets. But since they still might not have a shot at Derek Anderson, they tuned in yesterday to Wizards free-agent forward Aaron Williams.

After being rejected by the league in their bid for a disabled- player exception that might have led them to the now Chicago-bound Ron Mercer, the Nets were taking a harder look at Anderson, the Clippers’ free agent who seems beyond reach despite a pair of ACL surgeries in his past. But all indications were that Anderson, who averaged 16.9 points for the Clippers, would sign with San Antonio or Portland.

“We’re narrowing it down, San Antonio or Portland,” said Tony Dutt, Anderson’s representative. “I haven’t even talked to the Nets.”

So yesterday the Nets brought in Williams, a 6-9, 225-pound journeyman who posted career highs of 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Wizards last season. Williams, who is also being sought by the Knicks, almost was a Net once before. John Calipari wanted to sign him just before Christmas, 1996, but he tried to wait until after the holiday to waive Adrian Caldwell. The Nuggets beat the Nets to the punch and signed Williams on Dec. 22.

Why would the Nets chase a forward? Well, sources in Orlando insist the Magic have listed Nets F/C Jamie Feick as one of their potential targets. Feick is entering the second year of as $15 million contract that will pay him $2.2 million this season. It was not clear what Orlando would offer in a trade but Matt Harpring’s name, as it usually does, has come up. Ironically, the Magic acquired Harpring with a pick they acquired from the Nets in the Rony Seikaly deal.

With Mercer headed to Chicago, there are always plans C, D and E for the Nets, who may look to San Antonio’s Mario Elie for a one-year plug situation or try to land Sacramento’s 31-

year-old Jon Barry in a short-term deal. Here’s a stunner: Barry wants a long term pact.

So the day after the Nets learned that the league ruled they waited too long to apply for Jayson Williams’ exception while also declaring that Kerry Kittles seemed likely to play again, the Nets were revisiting all scenarios to plug their hole at two guard.

“We touched base with Mercer’s agent,” team president Ron Thorn said, acknowledging there was no chance and that a sign- and-trade with the Clippers for Anderson was most unlikely.

The Clippers don’t want to take on extra players since they have 14, with 12 holding guaranteed contracts. So that’s why they don’t want sign-and-trades. It’s also why they’re the Clippers.

And then there is always the remedy for the Nets that is at hand: Kendall Gill, their own free agent. Gill was not overwhelmed by the Nets’ original one-year offer, believed to be $5 million. Figure they will offer what he made last year, $5.6 million. With the lack of the exceptions from the league, Gill may have gained considerable leverage.

“Of course, it’s disappointing not to get the exceptions because that could have led to getting good, quality players,” Gill said. “Personally, it’s good because maybe we can work things out and get it done quickly.”

Also looking to hook up again with the Nets is small forward Johnny Newman, who wants a two-year deal. Newman, who intimated that there might be some interest in him from the Knicks, made it clear again that he wants to stay in New Jersey.

“It makes sense to bring me back,” said Newman, who averaged 10.0 points and shot .446, “especially after losing the medical exception. You need somebody in that locker room to lead. You can always use a scorer. And you know they need a shooter. And I want to end my career there.”